BRIAN TINSMAN
cryptoeconomics,
game design, & world building
consultant
ABOUT BRIAN
I'm in charge of tokenomics, analysis, and token design for cryptocurrencies and other digital asset projects. I help enterprise clients design the right token ecosystem and mechanisms for their business needs. After the design stage, my preferred approach is to build an economic simulation and test outcomes under thousands of market scenarios. This validates the system and helps tune the economy for the desired results. I've done this for ICOs, STOs, and various token systems in gaming, online services, real estate, securities, and large public crypto networks like NEM, Cerebral Fix, and Radix.
I have 15+ years as a game designer with credits on more than 50 shipped titles worth $800+ million in revenue. That experience turns out to be highly relevant to the new field of tokenomics, which involves designing mechanisms for digital assets, modeling and balancing complex virtual economies, and using game theory to incentivize users to act in the best interest of the network. Brands I've worked on include Magic: The Gathering, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Harry Potter, Transformers, Pokémon, MLB, Marvel, FarmVille, and Zynga Poker.
The field of Tokenomics (or Token Economics) uses econ, game theory, and behavioral analytics to design ecosystems for blockchains and other decentralized ledger systems. I design these kinds of systems, build working models, and run simulations to validate and improve the design and tuning.
This modeling and simulation approach has roots in video game development and lets us tune things like supply volatility and price behavior before launching a new cryptocurrency or digital token. It’s a very new field, but I earned my stripes over 15 years in game design and production.
My career path is all about modeling how incentives drive decisions.
Specialties: Tokenomics, Economic Modeling, Game Theory, Economics, Price Models, Valuation, Token Ecosystems, Mechanism Design, Token Design, STOs, Blockchain, DLT, Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Cryptoeconomics, Stablecoins, DeFi, Quantitative Analysis, Product Development, Whitepapers, Creative Development, Game Design, Public Speaking.
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE
2019 - PRESENT
President, Cryptoeconomist/Lead Analyst
PREDIXA GROUP LLC, AUSTIN, TX
I create plans, specs, and economic designs for blockchain projects such as cryptocurrency, game currency, securities, stablecoins, and financial products. I also write a lot of content to help explain these new kinds of projects to business leaders.
JAN 2016 - PRESENT
Cryptoeconomist, Tech Writer, Consultant
NEM.IO FOUNDATION / NEM GROUP LTD.
I led token design, tokenomics, and data analytics services for clients building cryptocurrency, blockchain, and DLT projects.
APR 2018 - FEB 2019
Senior Engineer Consultant
HE3 LABS, DALLAS, TX
I led token design, tokenomics, and data analytics services for clients building cryptocurrency, blockchain, and DLT projects.
OCT 2016 - MAY 2018
Head of Game Design
DGN GAMES, AUSTIN, TX
I designed player incentive systems and other data-driven metagame features to help business units reach KPI goals in the highly competitive online casino game industry.
OCT 2014 - OCT 2016
Executive Producer Dungeon Boss Mobile
BOSS FIGHT ENTERTAINMENT, DALLAS,TX
I led design teams for massively multiplayer games on iOS and Android with a focus on economics, guilds, and game-theory-driven incentive systems.
OCT 2013 - OCT 2014
Creative Director
DISNEY INTERACTIVE, AUSTIN, TX
I held the vision and designed specifications for new online products in Disney's strategy games category.
APR 2011 - OCT 2013
Director of Game Design
ZYNGA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
I created features and led data-driven game design on titles representing over 800 million players, such as Farmville, Zynga Poker, Chefville, Dream Zoo, War of the Fallen, and others
APR 2007 - APR 2011
Senior Game Designer, Producer
WIZARDS OF THE COAST, RENTON, WA
I led design on numerous Magic: the Gathering sets representing over $400 million in revenue. I headed the game design department of WotC R&D.
SEPT 2006 - APR 2007
Lead Game Designer
FLOWPLAY, SEATTLE, WA
I led the design team in building the alpha version of OurWorld, a casual puzzle-based MMO with over 75 million players worldwide. I created the earliest version of the economic system.
1998 - 2005
Senior Game Designer, Producer
WIZARDS OF THE COAST, RENTON, WA
I was responsible for guiding new products through the product development life cycle for new product. I headed New Concept Acquisitions efforts, reviewing game licensing opportunities. I was lead producer for Magic Online and a lead designer for Magic: The Gathering trading card game.
OTHER: Guest lecturer at University of Washington and University of Texas.
Member of Board of Advisors at Digital Future Lab.
Brian presenting on game design in Austin, Texas.
PUBLISHED GAMES
& BOOKS
EDUCATION
2000
MBA, Economics
At the University of Washington I earned an MBA with a focus in economics, studying how preference for risk and reward influences asset prices.
1995
BA, Evoluntionary Anthropology
2000 - Present
Additional Learning
Many engineering, cryptoeconomics management, communications, public speaking, and writing courses. Guest Lecturer at U of Washington - Bothell.
Certification in Python and R, Statistics, Data Science, Time Series Analysis, and Visualization.